[Closed] DH Helmets and ASTM 1952

Personally I would. This ensures the chin guard is of a certain standard. I bought a Bell Drop this week which is tested to astm1952. £75 from Wiggle right now.

It's weird because the cheaper Kali Durgana is tested to ASTM 1952, whereas the more expensive Avatar isn't, according to the Kali website. I have e-mailed Kali, but had no reply yet.

Just because a helmet is tested to a different standard doesn't mean it's better or stronger- ASTM1952 has pretty poor market recognition, relatively few manufacturers use it still and not all have tested their full ranges (I suspect that's what's happened with Kali?)

Also, I've not seen the full code, but the summary suggests that the chinbar test is optional. (it's certainly not mandatory- open face helmets can be tested. But it's not clear that it's a requirement when a chinguard is present)

I'd like to see the full thing but can't find one that's free to view.

I imagine the Avatar wouldn't pass the test then. In my automotive experience at least, it is not particularly expensive to get an item tested to a standard, just a few hundred quid sort of thing. If they were getting the Durgana tested then they easily could have got the Avatar tested at the same time. I suspect the Durgana is the newer design and they had to design with the test in mind.

".....hence, this specification requires greater impact protection and provides performance criteria for chin bars on full-face helmets....."

I imagine the Avatar wouldn't pass the test then. In my automotive experience at least, it is not particularly expensive to get an item tested to a standard, just a few hundred quid sort of thing. If they were getting the Durgana tested then they easily could have got the Avatar tested at the same time. I suspect the Durgana is the newer design and they had to design with the test in mind.

Edit.

Looking at the Specialized Dissident now. Anyone want a new helmet?

yeah maybe,is it tested to astm1952? 😉

Hahahaha might be 8)

You are kidding me? £300 for a helmet? How can you justify that dude?

I'm looking at maybe buying a full face next month just because if I do have an off, I want my face fully protected but £300...damn.

I said "looking" at the moment. I'm not convinced it's worth it either, but I can't really find anything else that I like. I love the Kali, but a bit un-nverved that it doesn't conform to the latest standards.

Buy what you want mate but £300 sounds alot to some of us, especially just for a helmet.

Tbh I didn't even realize there was standards, of course there are standards but I would never pay attention to it, just buy what I liked the look of.

When I say "doesn't conform to the latest standards", I actually mean the latest standard [singular] i.e. ASTM 1952, it apparently meets, and exceeds, the others.

You can get a d3 for 200

where?

theendisnigh - Member

".....hence, this specification requires greater impact protection and provides performance criteria for chin bars on full-face helmets....."

Yes, provides criteria- however the standard is for both fullface and openface helmets. I've not seen anything to state that chinbars if present [i]must[/i] past the test, but it's certainly possible for a helmet to pass without having any chin protection at all.

So that puts the test in a conundrum- do you fail fullface helmets that are more protective than an openface helmet which passed?

The summary is unclear but the main text might specify. Inernet Rumour said the chinbar test was fully optional but that's a long way from facts 😉

The Kali apparently uses a system where the padding and the outer shell are one piece, which apparently is a better way of doing it than gluing the padding to an outer shell, meaning the helmet responds better to knocks. Not sure how much truth there is in it, but it does result in one hell of a light helmet.

I may stick with the Kali, as it does fit, feels great, and looks fantasitc.

[img] [/img]

Racespec.co.uk

Thanks wys, that's very tempting. Never tried a TLD helmet so no idea if they fit though.

Tbh it's cheaper to buy one of those in medium and it it doesn't fit buy a L pad kit from crc and sell the M kit than to buy one anywhere else.
Measure ya heed?

Im on the cusp of small and medium. Do you think I should go medium then?

Small is tiny. Like kids sized surely? My missus has a med which is pretty tight. I won't measure her head tho..

Plus resale on a medium is better. If it doesn't fit send it back. Plus they're doing a £20 off voucher if you spend over 150 iirc. So really it's 180

Cool. Do you know what the code is?

It was on the homepage

Not any more.

Ordered. I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes.

Thanks for the heads-up 😀

Which you gone for?

[img] [/img]

In Medium

I liked the black version but they didn't have it in medium.

c**k: Out of stock!! I hate it when stores do that.

Panic over: The one they do actually have in stock in the one I wanted in the first place:

[img] [/img]

OK the D3 arrive today and now I have a dilemma.

Where the dilemma lies is in the fact that the Kali is so much more comfortable than the D3. The D3 kinda fits, but I ordered a medium and if was going to keep it I'd probably order the small kit for it. All things being equal, I would keep the Avatar, and therefore my question is: How important is ASTM 1952 to the safety of the helmet?

Hmmmm not sure...

Personally i'd use the one that fits, one that has the right safety standards etc I want, one that I won't have a niggleing doubt in my mind that it won't do its job right. If it looks ok that is a bonus. So in your case none of the helmets you have!

Buying full facers is hard as no one stocks much. My head was 661 shaped much to my dissapintment as I wanted a posh lid.

My D3 is the most comfortable helmet I have ever owned. Are you sure you got the correct size? I can't even imagine how anyone could find a D3 uncomfortable. Its way better than my D2 and numerous other full face helmets ive owned Unless you have a very particularly shaped head??

Also, I was under the impression the D3 was the safest Dh helmet out there. Quick release pads for neck injury etc.

Road helmet standards are not necessarily relevant for DH. There was a good article why in Dirt a few years ago.
Often the need for more ventilation prevents helmets being road classified (as is the case with the D3 I believe. Cheap helmets often have less ventilation thus are able to get the standard. essentially they are just mx lids. Heavy and hot.

Anyway. The D3 looks the best by far and Troy Lee is waaaay cooler than Kali and thats what really matters. 😉

You followed the instructions about trying it on without cheek pads?